Noon Thursday marks the start of provincial policing in West Nipissing.
At 11:59am the municipal police will cease to exist and one minute later the Nipissing West OPP will officially be in charge of policing.
The detachment will operate temporarily from 216 John Street until the permanent site is ready for occupancy sometime during the summer of 2020.
It’s hoped that construction on the new building can begin this fall.
Jay Barbeau, the CAO of the Municipality of West Nipissing, says if work can begin this fall and the shell of the building erected, then interior work can continue over the winter.
Barbeau says a sign will be displayed at the municipal police building directing people to the OPP site on John Street.
Additionally, anyone calling the municipal police number after the noon hour will get a recorded message explaining the new numbers.
For non-emergencies, people should call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
For administrative matters, the public can call the Warren OPP detachment at 967-2913 or the North Bay detachment at 495-3878.
For all emergencies continue to use 911.
Barbeau says all the municipal police officers who switched to the OPP are away for training the next four weeks.
That includes soon to be former Chief Ray St. Pierre.
Because the OPP use different equipment than the municipal police, it meant many of the assets became redundant.
Barbeau says St. Pierre has been in contact with various police services who bought some of the assets.
The municipality is looking into what leftover assets it can use rather than buy something new.
Barbeau says files have been or continue to be transferred to the John Street site and while the local officers are away on training, the municipality is being patrolled by officers from other detachments.
With the switch, 123 years of municipal policing ends in Sturgeon Falls and West Nipissing.
